Tulessa
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On March 13, Reynolds ran a few errands after her morning class before driving home. She was driving a light gray 1949 Chevy sedan home, according to the police report.
The burning vehicle was found at about 1:45 p.m. a mile south and about 2.5 miles west of Hopeton, down a country red-dirt road.
According to a report on July 20, 1956, by State Crime Bureau investigator Ivan Gates, on March 13 Reynolds vehicle transmission was in first low gear * and the body identified inside the vehicle was Ann Reynolds.
According to drawings from the report, Reynolds was driving west when her car pulled to the left. Her car had made impressions in the sand about 2 inches from the road, according to the report. The cars brakes were applied slightly and the vehicle began to roll backwards, zig-zagging, staying near and in the bar ditch. The report said the driver caused the rear wheels to spin, placing it in drive and hitting a tree. The car backed up again and then hit a small fence and the bumper guard was pulled from the vehicle. The car was pulled forward and once again backed before the vehicle stopped near the middle of the road. Reynolds body was found lying in the front seat, her head in the passenger side and her feet by the steering wheel, charred.
The report states that all car tracks were made by the same vehicle and no footprints were found leading to the fields or side of the road. Officers took photos and the body was taken to Oklahoma City for an autopsy, according to the report.
According to the case file, the cars tires and solenoid starter switch melted, causing the vehicle to be pulled, while body lead used to join the fender dripped on the left side. The drain plug in the gas tank was melted out. Only two rivets instead of four were on the drain plug, which the report noted was rare.
The wrecker that retrieved the vehicle found the plug 16 feet from where the vehicle fire first began. The muffler had a large hole in the front and small holes on top. The exhaust pipe was bent, allowing 30 to 40 percent of the exhaust out.
The autopsy in the case file was completed March 30, 1956, and lists the fire as the cause of death. The autopsy, signed by assistant professor of pathology Alfred M. Shideler, noted there was a fracture of the skull that could not be determined if it happened before or after her death. Other skull fractures, he noted, happened during the fire. Reynolds death certificate states Reynolds burned to death in an auto fire, for which the cause was unknown.
Fascinating case!
Much, much more at link.
http://www.enidnews.com/news/local_...cle_5b4e78f8-9d59-5873-876e-d2b0a89d75cc.html
The burning vehicle was found at about 1:45 p.m. a mile south and about 2.5 miles west of Hopeton, down a country red-dirt road.
According to a report on July 20, 1956, by State Crime Bureau investigator Ivan Gates, on March 13 Reynolds vehicle transmission was in first low gear * and the body identified inside the vehicle was Ann Reynolds.
According to drawings from the report, Reynolds was driving west when her car pulled to the left. Her car had made impressions in the sand about 2 inches from the road, according to the report. The cars brakes were applied slightly and the vehicle began to roll backwards, zig-zagging, staying near and in the bar ditch. The report said the driver caused the rear wheels to spin, placing it in drive and hitting a tree. The car backed up again and then hit a small fence and the bumper guard was pulled from the vehicle. The car was pulled forward and once again backed before the vehicle stopped near the middle of the road. Reynolds body was found lying in the front seat, her head in the passenger side and her feet by the steering wheel, charred.
The report states that all car tracks were made by the same vehicle and no footprints were found leading to the fields or side of the road. Officers took photos and the body was taken to Oklahoma City for an autopsy, according to the report.
According to the case file, the cars tires and solenoid starter switch melted, causing the vehicle to be pulled, while body lead used to join the fender dripped on the left side. The drain plug in the gas tank was melted out. Only two rivets instead of four were on the drain plug, which the report noted was rare.
The wrecker that retrieved the vehicle found the plug 16 feet from where the vehicle fire first began. The muffler had a large hole in the front and small holes on top. The exhaust pipe was bent, allowing 30 to 40 percent of the exhaust out.
The autopsy in the case file was completed March 30, 1956, and lists the fire as the cause of death. The autopsy, signed by assistant professor of pathology Alfred M. Shideler, noted there was a fracture of the skull that could not be determined if it happened before or after her death. Other skull fractures, he noted, happened during the fire. Reynolds death certificate states Reynolds burned to death in an auto fire, for which the cause was unknown.
Fascinating case!
Much, much more at link.
http://www.enidnews.com/news/local_...cle_5b4e78f8-9d59-5873-876e-d2b0a89d75cc.html